Electrical switch apparatus



Sept. 20, 1960 w. w. DEIGHTON 2,953,549

ELECTRICAL SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v lff/QQ ALBZ INV ENTOR.

WILLIAM W. DEIGHTON Sept. 20, 1960 w. w. DEIGHTON ELECTRICAL SWITCHAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1957 INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent O ELECTRICAL SWITCH APPARATUS William W.Deighton, Glen Mills, Pa., assigner to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 20, 1957, Sel'. No. 685,319

'4 Claims. (Cl. 200-5') This invention relates to improvements inelectrical switches and switch mechanisms and more particularly,although not necessarily exclusively to multiple pole, double throwswitch structures.

Single and double pole switches having a large number of electricalcontacts are well known in the art. 'Ihey are used for a variety ofapplications. An extremely important use for such switches is in theaccounting machine and telephone art respectively, to cite two of manyexamples. Push button and relay stepping switch control circuitsemployed in the automatic accounting machine art usually require largenumbers of relays to afford proper storage capacity and/r time controlfeatures necessary to such applications. Accounting apparatus of thetype described and claimed in U.S. patent application S.N. 518,454,filed July 17, 1956, in the name of W. W. Deighton et al. for anAutomatic Accounting Machine and assigned to the same assignee as thepresent invention, rely heavily on the use of such relays. Electricalcontrol circuits for accounting machine relay systems are frequentlyenergized by means of multipole switches mounted in various portions ofthe machine. Some of these switches are of the cam driven variety whileothers are of the push button plunger type.

Multiple pole electrical switches known to the art are comparativelylarge, cumbersome and expensive mechanisms. A control panel fitted withsuch a mechanism occupies a relatively large area. Frequently the wiringrequired with such switches limits their employment in small or confinedquarters rather stringently. Furthermore, since many of the prior artswitch mechanisms are hermetically sealed blocks or units of two ormore, each block being wired to each other block in the unit, individualservice of any particular switch often necessitates disassembly of anumber of switch blocks in order to locate the single faulty switchunit.

It is an important object therefore of the present invention to providean improved, multipole, multiple throw electrical switch structure ofsimple construction, compact conguration, permitting easy and ecientservice and operation.

It is another important object of this invention to provide an improved,multiple Contact electrical switch structure which occupies a reducedspace, whereby a large number of electrical contacts can be mounted in acomparatively small area.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electricalswitch wherein the contacts of each switch form the interconnectingwiring buses for the switch assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switchstructure which lis inexpensive to manufacture and simple `to wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism inwhich a plurality of individual switch members are operable directlyfrom the respective key stems of an accounting machine.

2,953,551-3 Patented Sept. 2Q, 1960 In accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention, there is provided a nine pole, double throwelectrical switch structure comprising, a plurality of dielectricmembers supported in side by side parallel relationship with oneanother. A plurality of substantially I-shaped switch elements and aplurality of substantially L-shaped members are secured to each of saiddielectric members, said I and L-shaped members being alternatelydisposed with respect to each other on each of said dielectric membersin step-like rows. Electrical switch contacts are disposed on each ofsaid I and L-shaped elements, and means is provided for inter-engagingthe L with the I-shaped elements selectively, thereby to complete adesired electrical circuit therethrough.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from thefollowing specification and claims when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a switch structure embodying theinvention as incorporated in an accounting machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in side elevation of an enlarged fragmentaryportion of the switch and its locking slide structure;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the switch elements as assembled in the presentinvention; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and particularly to Fig.3 thereof, there is shown a dielectric member 10, provided with aplurality of iirst switch elements 12. Each of the switch elements 12 issubstantially L-shaped and is constructed of a relatively resilientelectrically conductive material. Each L-shaped member 12 comprises aportion 13 by which the member is attached to the dielectric member 10,as `by hollow rivets 14, and upper and lower portions bent outwardlysubstantially at right angles to portion 13 thus to provide an ear ortab 16 and a exible at arm portion 13 respectively.

Tab 16 carries an electrical contact 22 at the end thereof, and theflexible aim 18 is provided with upper and lower contacts 24 and 26respectively, slightly displaced With respect to each other, as shown,with the upper contact 24 normally biased by arm 18 into contact withcontact 22 of tab 16 of the next successive L-shaped member, to theright as seen in Fig. 3. The members 12 preferably are disposed on theirrespective panels 1G in stair step fashion (Fig. 3) to provide greatersimplicity and flexibility in interconnecting each arm 18 to itsrespective output as will be explained presently, and in order to permitindexing mechanism to engage the flexible portion of the switchperpendicularly, as will be described later on.

Disposed intermediate each pair of members 12 is an individualsubstantially I-shaped switch output member 30 having an electricalContact 32 disposed on an outwardly turned ear portion 33. It will benoted that contacts 26 of arms 18 are slightly spaced from and abovecontacts 32. Thus it is seen that the apparatus described providesaligned pairs of iixed contacts (22 and 32) having a flexible member 18therebetween and in electrically conductive Contact with successivecontacts 22 thus to provide a complete electrical circuit starting atthe leftmost contact member 12, Fig. 3, which is used as the input, andpassing back and forth from resilient element to resilient element,terminating at the rightmost or output Contact 30.

As shown, the structural configuration of the switch assembly is suchthat a complete electrical circuit is provided without the need for anywiring busses from one contact to another along the dielectric member.It is apparent therefore that the foregoing construction eliminates theneed for skilled wiring and also eliminates the additional requirementof soldering multiple source interconnecting electrical lead Wires tothe various contacts of the assembly. Advantage is thus taken of theintegral wiring supplied by means of the structural configuration ofeach of the interengaging elements forming the present switch package.

According to the teaching of the present invention only three stampingsare required in order to fabricate a ccmplete switch package having tenelectrical outputs from nine electrical inputs, Fig. l. Each stamping issimple and easy to fabricate, having no complex bends or other unusualconiigurational details. Where, as in an accounting machine of the typeearlier referred to herein, a total of 27 switches is required, thisnumber is easily obtained by the means hereinafter set forth.

Each one of the dielectric panel members as seen in Fig. 4 is providedwith its respective series of switch elements. The members 10 areadapted to be secured together in three parallel separated rows, as willnow be explained. Each panel is provided with a number of holes 34, 36and 38, Fig. 3, through which pass supporting shafts itl-42 and 44.Since the commercial thickness tolerances of the dielectric materialforming members 10 varies from member to member a compensating device isutilized to provide the desired spacing between adjacent members. Tothis end a compression spring 46 is inserted lbetween the outermostpanel members and the middle member, while the innermost member ismaintained separate, but in parallel side by side relationship withrespect to the middle member by means of a shouldered collar 48. AnEaring on the inboard and outboard ends of each of the shafts 4tl-42-44secure the assembly to the outrigger side plate 50 which is attached tothe accounting machine outer side plates by means of bolts 52 and nutsS4, Fig. l.

As a means of providing common interconnecting lead wires for thecorresponding output contact elements 30 of the boards a number ofrelatively rigid rod like wires 56 are passed through the horizontallyaligned rivets S7 securing switch elements 30 to the three board members1u. The inboard ends 58 of the wires S6 are bent at right angles toretain the wires against removal from the assembly. The outer ends 59 ofthe wires form terminal attachment means for the leads 60 (Fig. l) oneof which is secured to each wire. The leads are then cabled togetherwithin a cover member 61 and the cover is fixed to the Outrigger frameStb as by screw 62 and clip 63. The electrical input conductors or lines64, Fig. 4, are attached to each one of the leftmost switch elements 12.

The switch mechanism embodying the present invention is illustrated asincorporated in an accounting machine of the Butler type, as beforementioned, for use as account number verification means up to threedigits. The Butler machine utilizes a standard keyboard, the left sideo-f which has been extended to accommodate three additional rows ofdepressible keys, one for each account number, only one key row beingshown in Fig. 1 and being identified by the reference character 65. Thekeys are numbered starting with one at the lower right side of thisigure and terminating with nine at the upper left side thereof.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, it can be seen that each of the parts of thekeyboard controls of the present application Vis substantially identicalto those of Butler 2,629,549 and that the construction and operation ofthe keys of the three added key rows is similar to that shown in Figs.29 to 32 and 37 to 4l, and described, beginning at column 23 of theButler patent.

Automatic key resetting mechanism Each key latch slide 70 is provided atits depending end portion with an electrical insulating element 71forming a rounded projection thereon. This latter projection preventsaccidental short circuiting of the switches disposed therebelow. Eachlatch plate 72. is biased left- Wardly by means of spring 73 (Fig. l) asdescribed in Butler 2,629,549, columns 38 to 40, and is provided with ahook portion 74, projecting downwardly from the rightward end 75 of theplate. A reset bail or latching member 76 extends upwardly from rockshaft 77 which is journalled in the side plates of the accountingmachine.

Each of the depressed keys in the added rows is locked in its depressedcondition (Fig. 2) by engagement of hook 72a over key portion 70a `andis adapted to be automatically reset by means of a solenoid 78operatively associated with the reset bail 76 (Fig. l). As can be seenin Fig. 2, when a key is depressed, the hook 72a is drawn slightly tothe left since the slide is biased leftwardly by the spring 73. When thesolenoid is pulsed by means not shown, the plunger 79 is retractedleftwardly to cause the latch 76 to move clockwise about the pivot 77,thus pulling the hook 74 of each key slide 72 rightwardly releasing hook72a from key portion 70a thus permitting the depressed keys to return toa reset position as shown in Fig. l, and as urged by spring 80.

As can be seen from Fig. 2, each key stem is disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the resilient portion 18 of each contact member 12.Each resilient portion, due to its novel structural configuration, isnormally urging its contact 24 into engagement with the upper Contact 22and to be deflected into engagement with the lower electrical contact 32as shown. rPhe upper, normally closed set of contacts provides anelectrical circuit including each switch element 12 in the assemblypackage, which circuit may be shortened by depression of any of the keys65 thus moving the switch outlet from element 3@ at the extreme rightend of the assembly to the outlet contact element 30 beneath the arm 18being deected by depression of the selected key.

Connecting the three columns of switches are the ten bus bar wires 56that extend directly through the hollow rivets 57 as described above.These ten Wires are separately secured to a terminal board 82 alsomounted as by screws 83 to the frame 50. These ten bus wires along withbus wires 64 attached to the end of each column, make a total of 13 buswires used with the present switch package. It is apparent from theforegoing that the switch package considerably reduces the wiring whichwould otherwise be required if conventional switches were employed atthe base of each key stem. Also it can be seen that if it were necessaryto interwire such switches to provide the desired electrical circuits, aconsiderably involved and confusing overlay of wires would be necessary.

An important feature of the present invention is that the flexibleblades i8 of each individual contact member 12 overlap the blade of thenext adjacent member so that even ythough the pitch between the keystems is on the order of 3%, the blade has the desired degree ofllexibility and resilience to permit the key stems to close the switcheswithout interference with each other and without undue stress beingbuilt up on the blades.

Thus it can be seen that this invention provides a novel multipole,multiple throw electrical switch structure which occupies a reducedspace while providing a large number of electrical contacts.Additionally this invention provides a switch structure fabricated fromdie stampings wherein the contacts and operating elements thereof formthe electrical interconnections therefor thus reducing the wiringrequirements to the barest minimum. The switch of the present inventionis thus inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and simple to wire intoother associated equipment.

What is claimed is:

il. An electrical switch structure comprising, a plurality ofelectrically insulating panels, means mounting said panels in spacedapart parallel relation, a plurality of first switch elements mounted inalignment on each of said panels, each first switch element comprising abase 1 portion by which said element is secured to its respective\`-panel, and first and second outwardly turned portions at oppositeedges respectively of each base portion, said second outwardly turnedportion extending laterally beyond said base portion and comprising anelongated resilient finger extending between the first and secondoutwardly turned portions of the next adjacent one of said first switchelements, each of said first outwardly turned portions having anelectrical contact on its inner side facing the finger of the adjacentswitch element, first and second electrical contacts on opposite sidesrespectively of each of said fingers, said first contact normally beingbiased against the contact on said first outwardly turned portion of thenext `adjacent first switch element thus to interconnect said pluralityof first contact elements in a series circuit, a plurality of secondswitch elements mounted on each of said insulating panels, one of saidsecond switch elements being interposed between each adjacent pair ofsaid first switch elements, each of said second switch elementscomprising la base portion by which it is mounted upon each of saidpanels, and an outwardly turned tab portion, having an electricalcontact thereon adjacent to and facing the second contact of the fingerof an adjacent first switch element, means for moving each of saidfingers to break the electrical contact thereof with said first contactof the next adjacent first switch element and to make contact with saidfacing contact of the adjacent one of said second contact elements, andmeans operably associated with said mounting means for biasing one ofsaid insulating panels relative to the other of said plurality ofinsulating panels.

2. An electrical switch structure comprising, a plurality ofelectrically insulating panels, means mounting said panels in spacedapart parallel relation, a plurality of electrically conductive firstswitch elements mounted in alignment on each of said panels, each firstswitch element comprising a base portion by which said element issecured to its respective panel, and first and second outwardly turnedportions at opposite edges respectively of each base portion, saidsecond outwardly turned portion extending laterally beyond said baseportion and comprising `an elongated resilient finger extending betweenthe first and second outwardly turned portions of the next adjacent oneof said first switch elements, the inner side of each of said firstoutwardly turned portions facing the finger of the adjacent switchelement and normally being biased into electrical contact with saidfirst outwardly turned portion of the next adjacent first switch elementthus to electrically interconnect said plurality of first switchelements in a series circuit, a plurality of electrically conductivesecond switch elements mounted on each of said insulating panels, one ofsaid second switch elements mounted on each of said insulating panels,one of said second switch elements being interposed between eachadjacent pair of said first switch elements, each of said second switchelements comprising a base portion by which it is mounted upon each ofsaid panels, and an outwardly turned tab portion, adjacent to and facingthe outer side of the finger of an adjacent first switch element, andmeans for moving each of said fingers to break the electrical contactthereof with said next adjacent first switch element to make electricalcontact with said adjacent one of said second switch elements.

3. An electrical switch comprising, an electrically insulating panel, aplurality of first switch elements mounted in alignment on said panel,each element comprising a base portion by which said element is securedto said panel, and first and second outwardly turned portions atopposite edges respectively of said base portion, said second outwardlyruined portion extending laterally beyond said base portion -andcomprising a resilient finger extending between the first and secondoutwardly turned portions of the next adjacent one of said first switchelements, each of said first outwardly turned portions having anelectrical contact on its inner side facing the finger of the adjacentswitch element, first and second electrical contacts on opposite sidesrespectively of each of said fingers, said first contact normally beingbiased against the contact on said first outwardly turned portion of thenext adjacent first switch element thus to interconnect said pluralityof first contact elements in series circuit, a plurality of secondswitch elements mounted on said panel, one of said second switchelements being interposed between each adjacent pair of said firstswitch elements, each of said second switch elements comprising a baseportion by which it is mounted upon said panel, and an outwardly turnedtab portion, having an electrical contact thereon adjacent to and facingthe second contact of the finger of an adjacent first switch element,and means for moving each of said fingers to break the electricalContact thereof with said first contact of the next adjacent firstswitch element and to make contact with said facing contact of theadjacent one of said second contact elements.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein a plurality of suchswitches are provided in parallel arrangement, and further includingconnector means for electrically interconnecting corresponding ones ofsaid second switch elements from one switch to another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

